Three cooperatives in the Valencian community have joined forces to create a new citrus group to boost their competitiveness and drive forward their expansion.
Green Fruits brings together Cooperativa Citrícola de la Safor, Novacitrus and Cooperativa Agrícola de Pego (Coopego), who between them have around 1,200 grower members producing 65,000 tonnes of fruit, principally citrus.
All three cooperatives are members of Anecoop and together they now represent the group’s largest citrus partner. Their union is the latest example of Anecoop’s integration strategy to improve operating efficiency through closer consolidation among its producer base.
Green Fruits was born from an alliance between Novacitrus and La Safor in 2014, and the subsequent incorporation of Coopego three years later.
At an event held on Tuesday to celebrate the creation of the new group, Green Fruits president Francisco Gilabert said the move showed a willingness to adapt to new market challenges.
“In these times it is essential to improve competitiveness by concentrating supply and optimising the management of infrastructure and production,” he said.
Green Fruits’ manager Jaime Torres added: “Our second grade cooperative, integrated in the Anecoop group, can achieve a scale and productivity that ensures the ongoing profitability of citrus fruit”.
Among the company’s new projects, Torres highlighted a commitment to the production of ‘zero residue’ products; the specialization of warehouses by varieties and the opening of new customer lines.
